Workers at border fence repair site in Maungdaw severely injured in landmine encounter

By Kyaw Myo Aung 23 Feb 2021

Kyaw Myo Aung | DMG
23 February 2021, Maungdaw

Some workers who were working to repair a border fence at a location between mileposts 36 and 37 at Taung Pyo, in northern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, stepped on a landmine on February 22 and were injured.

The group of workers was clearing brush near the border fence on Monday morning, and a worker stepped on a landmine at about 8 a.m.

“A worker stepped on a landmine and suffered severe injury to his leg,” said U Soe Aung, chair of the Maungdaw District Administration Council.

Ko Maung Tun, an 18-year-old resident of Pankonema village in Buthidaung Township, is one of the workers who were repairing the border fence, and was also severely injured.

He was admitted to Sittwe Hospital on the morning of February 23, said Dr. Nu Kaythi San, head of the Maungdaw Township Medical Service Department.

U Shwe Maung, a healthcare worker from Meetike village, said: “Two people were injured due to the landmine explosion. One is from Buthidaung Township and the other one is a 22-year-old villager from Meetike village. He got a minor injury.”